Trade Policy

Protect Access to Medicines in Trade Policy

Since 2008, the Trans Pacific Partnership has been in the works. It has been mostly negotiated in secret, and then unveiled in 2015. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a trade deal that is currently being negotiated between the United States and 11 other countries. The leaked drafts include strengthening of intellectual property (IP) rules that enhance patent and data protection for pharmaceutical companies. International treatment initiatives, such as PEPFAR and the Global Fund, depend on affordable, generic prescription drugs to scale up their treatment programs. By restricting access to generic medicines, less people will receive treatment and fewer lives will be saved.

Since congress voted to "fast-track" Congress can only vote on the bill in its entirety, without proposing amendments. Fast-tracking this trade agreement was an attempt to push through a damaging, widely opposed trade agreement through undemocratic means. But the TPP can still be stopped with pressure from us.

Now is the time. From now until December 16th, the access to medicines movement must focus on stopping the TPP, which could come up for a vote anywhere from Nov. 14th-December 16th. This vote may be sudden, and every single vote will count, as it could come down to just a few votes needed to win.

For the rest of October and November, we are pushing to make sure Congress will not ratify the biggest trade deal in history.

What can you do this month to be an effective advocate? (October-December)

Reach out to as many people as you can this month and get them to sign onto a pledge to flood Congress with calls the day a vote comes up (If you haven't done so yet, fill out this form and we will let you know via phone or email that the TPP has gone up for a vote).

October 27: SGAC national call, Why is the TPP so bad for access to medicines, anyway?

We know the TPP is bad, but why is it so bad exactly? Brook Baker, senior policy analyst at Health GAP and Northeastern University law professor, will explain the language and policies reflected in the TPP that will spell public health disaster. Hilary McQuie, Director of US Policy at Health GAP will explain what anti-TPP advocacy looks like on Capitol Hill, and Emily Sanderson, SGAC National Organizer, will explain what our grassroots strategy is between now and the end of Obama's term as president.

Nov. 15: Nation-wide call-in and Thunderclap

In September, when SGAC participated in this nation wide call-in, there were over 35,000 calls placed to the White House opposing the TPP in one day. 1.6 million people were reached via social media!

We will be participating in the next nation-wide call in on November 15th. Mark it on your calendars, plan to table at your school, and get 5 friends to make the call after you do. We will send a script to the list-serv when the day comes closer. (Not on the listserv but want to be? Email emily@healthgap.org to be added, or sign-up on the website).